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On Sunday, October 18, 2026 hundreds of toy collecting enthusiasts will gather at the Etobicoke Olympium, 590 Rathburn Rd,
Etobicoke (Toronto) to buy, trade, chat, swap, and get terribly nostalgic about their cherished toys from the past. Most of these enthusiasts are not young in years, but are
grown up children, yet still love the art of collecting. 'In over 52 years of participating in these shows there is always something surprising that turns up and often you just
have to grab it' says Tony Reich, long time member of the Canadian Toy Collectors' Society, a group, that while mainly Toronto based, attracts toy collectors from around
the world to its membership.
Bouyed by the overwhelming success of their past shows, the Canadian Toy Collectors' Society is again sponsoring the "53nd Canada's Greatest Collector's Toy Show & Sale" in a familiar location, the Etobicoke Olympium, 590 Rathburn Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 3T3. Enthusiasm from toy dealers and collectors alike for this Toronto area show location, a spot that is very easily accessed from all major Toronto Highways, Pearson (Toronto) Airport and via the Toronto Transit Commission's fleet of buses, ensures that the Canadian Toy Collectors' Society has once again returned to the Etobicoke Olympium. The CTCS show will have over 150 dealer tables and several booths which will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. The action actually starts in the afternoon of the preceeding day as toy dealers from across Canada, as well as from several international countries, gather on the afternoon of Saturday October 18th, between the hours of 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm, to set up their tables and booths. Then again, between 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, setup continues. "What is great news for avid toy collectors," says CTCS Show Manager Larry Stricker, "is the fact that early bird 'Floor Trading Rights', which also includes admission to the public show hours, can be obtained for both setup sessions, enabling avid collectors to get a first look at the wares for sale and perhaps score that perfect addition to their own collection before the general public enters at 9:00 am Sunday morning". Real enthusiasts often purchase this early bird pass, which includes show admission, to gain entry and snap up those really sought after pieces. The show attracts collectors and dealers from across Canada, as well as the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, so it's worth the small extra expense if you have come that far to be there. While some collectors anxious to revisit their childhood spend in the thousands for rare pieces or collections, this is also the venue to find out about forgotten pieces that have been kept in the attic, dusted off and brought to the show, as here is the one place a year to find genuine authorities on the toys. Many shows have suffered in recent years with the popularity of eBay as a source for collecting, but the advantage of visiting specialized shows like Canada's Greatest Collector's Toy Show is that you can handle the goods, see the condition for yourself, compare prices, haggle for a deal or even just window shop. This is the place to find rare Canadian toys, and some years ago the executive of the Society set up a fund to purchase such Canadian toys to prevent them from leaving the country. That collection, now numbering overt 1000 pieces, includes toy trucks, cars and boats which are made of diecast metal or pressed steel, tin, plastic, cardboard and wood as well as tricycles, dolls and dolls houses, construction kits, and peddle cars. Many of these are in mint museum condition and have been on public display at the Malton Gallery in Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario and other public venues. Currently part of the collection is on loan to THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, Ontario and the remainder of the collection is on a long time loan to the London Childrens Museum in London, Ontario. Plans are underway to also display in other museums and community settings throughout Ontario and Canada. Show hours will run from 9 am until 2:00 pm on October 18th, 2026. "The early afternnon closing time is really appreciated by the dealers who can then pack up any remaining wares and get a start on returning to their home towns or cities before it it too late in the day" says collector and dealer Glen Robinson, who hails from Ottawa and annually makes the 5 hour trip each way in order to attend Canada's Greatest Collector's Toy Show & Sale. The C.T.C.S. show is Canada's premier collecto'rs toy show, and has the reputation for being 'the friendly show'. Collectors anticipate "show day" as they look ahead to a truly exciting venue, and the opportunity to add that elusive piece to their collection. Dealers appreciate the support given by the CTCS show organizers, club members and other dealers who, collectively, make this show an exciting event to attend. If you want to experience this for yourself be sure to visit Canada's Greatest Collectors' Toy Show & Sale at the Etobicoke Olympium on Sunday, October 18, 2026 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and bring the family because there is something for everyone there. For further details, please contact Larrry Stricker at (905) 981-2506 or by email at ctcstoyshow@gmail.com |